East Asia today faces a wide range of political, social and economic challenges. Changing regional situations, developments in the Middle East, energy security concerns, population ageing, low birth rates, population decline and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are all reshaping the regional environment. These challenges cannot be addressed effectively by any single country alone. They require deeper mutual understanding, the sharing of policy experience and practical efforts to strengthen regional cooperation.

The 2026 East Asia Cooperation Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, is designed to provide a platform for dialogue among leading scholars, policy experts and practitioners from across the region. The Forum aims to assess the changing regional environment and explore sustainable ways to promote cooperation among East Asian countries.